Around The Web | What We’re Reading
Does marriage interest you? Is it still relevant? This week we celebrate your nuptial prime time at a point when divorce rates are sky rocketing. We also look to a new shift in one of the most powerful positions in fashion, with iconic stylist Edward Enninful becoming British Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief and we put a spotlight on European Commissioner for Competition Margarethe Vestager who is single-handedly taking on the biggest tech behemoths of our time Apple, Google and Facebook. Oh and Bob Ross on acid is not fun. Get reading.
“Enninful was modelling for i-D at 16, assisting on shoots by 17, and taking over as fashion editor of i-D at 18.” In honour of his announcement as the first male Editor in Chief of British Vogue, take a look at some of the most iconic images created by Edward Enninful throughout his career as a stylist dedicated to the promotion of diversity in fashion.
“People are going to be upset about the sacred entering the realm of the profane. But we like to do things that can be perceived as politically incorrect. If we are getting flak, we think we are doing something right.” Jeff Koons’ latest collaboration with Louis Vuitton is a series of handbags depicting masterpieces such as the Mona Lisa. Does this ‘touch on the metaphysical’ as Koons describes, or is it simply vulgar?
“As an American we tend to look at the UK as being so progressive and elevated with Windrush, and that is true to an extent, but beneath that there were troubles, issues, disregard and disenfranchisement.” The story of the British Black Panthers is thrown into the spotlight with a new series and exhibition dedicated to the movement. Discover this lesser known tale of the community’s fight for survival and change.
“Our current contract – ‘until death’ – might have worked when people didn’t live all that long, or when many women died in childbirth, freeing men to marry multiple times (which they did). But that isn’t why we marry nowadays.” The idea of temporary and renewable marriage contracts has been toyed with throughout history but never implemented legally. Is this the millennial way to make a union?
“Donald Trump’s foreign policy and legislative agenda may be a confused mess, but his administration’s attack on the environment is operating with the focus and zeal of the Spanish Inquisition.” As millions of Americans prepare to celebrate Earth Day next week, this analysis tries to make sense of Trump’s methodical anti-environmental agenda.
“This artwork represents what it would be like for an AI to watch Bob Ross on LSD (once someone invents digital drugs.” Designer, artist and roboticist Alexander Reben has created a psychedelic video in homage to legendary TV presenter Bob Ross, that uses deep learning techniques to simulate how an AI would watch his show. Deeply Artificial Trees is a trippy glimpse into the inner workings of deep learning systems.
“Technology is, in many respects, an enabler for an open, transparent society. But it’s also an enabler for supervision to a completely unforeseen degree. And for commercialising personal space to an unforeseen degree.” Margarethe Vestager, the European Commissioner for Competition, does not like being told what to do. Taking on Silicon Valley giants such as Apple, Google, Facebook and Amazon, Vestager holds the key to Europe for US tech companies and she isn’t going to give them an easy ride.
